Device for cutting grooves in phonograph records



Aprilifil, 1931,

C. H. WILL DEViCE FOR-"CUTTING eraoovas IN PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Filed March 28. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR CAPTI- H. WILL. 5 m4 Maw-4 ATTORNEYS April 21 1931. c, w 1,801,404

DEVICE FOR CUTTING GROOVES IN PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Filed March 28. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IA W 9- INVENTORY GAIFL H- WIL-L- ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARL H. WILL, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO ORVILLE S. CAESAR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND OF ONE-THIRD TO CARL E. WICKMAN, OF

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA DEVICE FOR CUTTING GROOVES IN PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Application filed March 28, 1929. Serial No. 350,581.

This invention relates to an improved device for cutting a groove in a flat surface, as for example, the surface of a phonograph record.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive device for cutting an eccentric groove in the surface of a phonograph record, adapted to receive the needle,

subsequent to the completion of the sound n reproduction, and guide it in a manner to impart an oscillatory movement to the tone arm, such movement being utilized to effect the operation of certain mechanism.

A further object is to provide a small,

" portable device for cutting a groove in the surface of a phonographrecord, adapted to receive the needle and guide it away from the sound-producing grooves, when the needle reaches the termination of said grooves, the device being readily adjustable to different sizes of record, and having means whereby the cutting or grooving element or tool may be quickly adjusted to engage the inner, or finishing end of the sound repro- 1. ducing groove of the record whereby, when been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view of my improvedrecord grooving device, showing a record positioned thereon, and the means for securing it therete'g Figure 2 is a partial plan view' of Figure 1;

F igure'3 is a detail sectional view, showing the means for centering the record on the record-supporting base, which means also provides a support for the cutting means;

Figure at is a detail sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a record, showing an eccentric groove cut in the surface thereof; A

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing a modified form wherein the record is secured to the base by the eccentric; and

Figure 7 is a plan View of Figure 6.

The novel device featured in this invention comprises a base member 2, adapted to support the record. This base is here shown as being circular in configuration, and having an upright post or stud mounted in the central portion thereof by such means as a plate 4, secured to the bottom of the base 2, by suitable screws 5. The post 3 is here shown as having a threaded end portion 6 received in a threaded socket provided in the plate 4, and having a lock nut 10 re-,

ceived in threaded engagement with the lower end thereof for securing it in adjusted position.

An eccentric 7, having a pin 8 secured therein is adapted to be demount-ably supported on the post 3 as shown in Figure 1;

A transverse slot 9 is provided in the upper end of the post 3, adapted to receive the pin 8, as shown in Figure 1. The pin-8 and slot 9 cooperate to limit the downward movement of the eccentric 7 on the post 3, and also to prevent relative rotation of the eccentric thereon. A flange 11 is formed at the lower end of the eccentric 7 as shown in Figure 1, and a threaded extension 16 at its upper end adapted to receive a knurled cap 17, which provides a closure for the upper end. of the post 3, also a grip for the convenience of the operator to lift the cutting means off the post 3 to permit removing the record from the base 2, or placing another record thereon.

An arm 18 has a hub 19 bored to receive the eccentric 7 This hub is retained in position upon the eccentric by means of the flange 11 and the bottom face of the knurled nut 17, as shown in Figure 1. The arm 18 has a longitudinal slot 21 adapted to receive a stud 22 having a head 23 provided with a tongue 21 adapted to be received in the slot 21, to prevent relative rotation of the stud 22. The lower portion 20 of the stud 22 has a groove-cutting element 25, such for example, as a diamond point, suitably secured therein, adapted to engage the surface of the record, indicated by the numeral 26. A clamping member 27 is received in threaded engagement with the stud 22 and has its lower surface arranged to engage the top surface of the arm 18 whereby, when the member 27 is rotated, the stud 22 may be secured in adjusted position to the arm by the clamping action of the members 23 and 27, when the latter is rotated in one direct-ion. A cylindrical extension 28 is provided on the member 27 adapted to receive a finger grip or knob 29 mounted for rotation thereon and retained by means of a screw 31, received in threaded engagement with the upper end of the extension 28.

The arm 18 is so positioned with respect to the top surface of the record 26 that the cutting element 25 is normally out of contact with the top surface of the record 26, so that the cutting element may be relatively moved over the surface of the record without marring the surface thereof. The vertical adjustment of the post 3 in the plate 4, provides means for thus positioning the a cutting element with respect to the surface of the record. \Vhen the cutting element has been adjusted to the proper position upon the arm 18, the operator will grasp the finger grip 29 and slightly bear down thereon, as the arm is rotated about the axisof the eccentric 7, thereby causing the latter to flex to permit the cutting element to be brought into cut-ting engagement with the surface of the record. As soon as the operator releases his grip on. the knob 29, the arm will return to its normal position and thus move the cutting element out of engagement with the groove cut in the surface of the record.

To prevent the record from relatively rotating upon the base 2, during the groove cutting operation, I provide means for clamping the outer portion or edge thereof which I have here shown, as consisting of aslotted bar 32, secured to the upper portion of the base 2 by such means as screws A threaded stud 34 is slidable in a slot 30,

provided in the arm 32. This stud has a squared portion received in the slot which prevents relative rotation of the stud therein. A flanged nut 36 is received in threaded engagement with the stud 34 and) cooperates with the bar 32 to secure the record to the base 2, as will readily be understood by reference to Figure 1. The bar 32 is preferably sunk into the top surface of the base 2 so that its top surface 7 will be substantially flush with the top surface of the base 2, as shown. The slot 30 in the bar 32 adapts the device for records of different diameters.

In operation, the record to be grooved is placed upon the base 2 and is centered thereon by means of the post 3, the latter being inserted through the usual aperture 37 provided in the center of the record, best shown in Figure 5. The clamping stud 34 is then moved into engagement with the edge of the record and the nut 36 screwed downwardly until the edge of the record is clamped between the bar 32 and the flange provided on the nut 36. Before securing the record to the base 2, as above, it is positioned thereon so that the terminal or inner end of the sound-reproducing groove on the record is substantially aligned with the stud 34 and the axis of the record. The post 3 is so positioned with respect to the record clamping bar 32, that the slot 9 therein will be substantially alined therewith, as shown in Figure 9. The eccentric 7 is also positioned upon the post 3, as shown in Figure 1, so that the high side thereof will be directed towards the bar 32. The clamping member 27 supporting the cutting element, is then rotated to permit the stud 22 to be relatively moved upon the arm 18, until the point of the cut-ting element 25 is brought into registration with the inner end of the sound-reproducing groove of the record. The clamping element 27 is then operated to secure the stud 22 to the arm 18, after which the arm may be rotated by an operator to cause a groove 38 to be cut in the upper surface of the record, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 5. This groove is cut relatively deeper than the usual sound-reproducing groove in the surface of the record, so that when the needle drops into the groove 38, there will be no danger of its becomin accidentally disengaged therefrom. f desired, a second groove 39 may be cut in the surface of the record adjacent to the groove 38, adapted to receive the needle, should it accidentally become disengaged from the groove 38. The grooves thus cut in the surface of the record will be eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of the record, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 5. Thus, when the needle engages the eccentric groove 38, an oscillatory movement will be imparted to the tone arm. 1 0

This oscillatory movement may be utilized for operating certain mechanisms such, for example, as that used in some machines for automatically changing the records in the phonograph.

A feature of this invention resides in the simple and inexpensive construction of the device and in the fact that it is so constructed that it is substantially positive in operation, provided, of course, that the record has been properly positioned and secured on the base 2. The device is also small and compact so that it may be conveniently moved about from place to place. It has been found particularly useful in places where records are sold, as certain types of automatic phonographs require that an eccentric groove be formed in the surface of the record to provide means for operating the record changing mechanism, which is accomplished by an oscillatory movement of the tone arm. By the use of this simple device, an eccentric groove may be quickly cut in the surface of a record without loss of time, and with the assurance that the groove will be properly located and cut in the record with reference to the sound reproducing grooves of the record.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a modified construction wherein the record is secured to the base 2 by means of an eccentric 41, which is here shown as being integrally formed with a stem 42, having its lower end received in threaded engagement with a plate 48, se-

cured to the base 2 by suitable screws 44.

In the construction here shown, the record is placed upon the base with its aperture 37 registering with an aperture 45 provided in the base 2. The stem 42 is then inserted through the alined apertures 37 and, 45, provided respectively in the record 26 and base 2. The lower threaded end of the stem 42- is then screwed into the plate 43 until the bottom of the eccentric 41 clampingly engages the upper central portion of the record, thus securing it tothe base 2. Before securing the record to the base, it is positioned thereon so that the inner end or terminus of the sound reproducing grooves of the record will be properly positioned with respect to the high side of the eccentric 41, after which the stud 22, supporting the cutting element 25 may be adjusted to the proper position upon the arm 18. When suitably secured to the arm, the latter may be rotated to cause the cutting element 25 to cut an eccentric groove in the surface of the record 26. The arm 18, shown in Figure 6 is retained upon the reduced portion 46 of the eccentric by a suitable nut 47 received in threaded engagement with an extension 48, providedupo-n a reduced portion 46 of the eccentric 41.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a support for a phonograph record having a central aperture, a post on said support adapted to be received in said aperture to center the record on the support, an eccentric member demountably supported on said pos an arm mounted for rotary movement upon said member, and a cutting element adjustably supported on said arm, said eccentric, arm and cutting element being assembled as a unit to facilitate removing said parts from said stud and attaching them thereto.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a support for a phonograph record having a central aperture, a poston said support adapted to be received in said aperture to center the record on the support, said post having a transverse slot in the upper end portion thereof, an eccentric member demountably supported on said post and having means adapted to be received in said slot to prevent relative rotation of said member on said post, an arm mounted for rotary movement on said member, and a groove-cutting element adjustably supported on said arm.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a support for a phonograph record having a central aperture, a post on said support adapted to be received in said aperture to center the record on the support, an arm mounted for rotary movement on said post, and having its rotational axis off-set from the axis of the post, and a cutting element supported on said arm and normally out of engagement with the surface of the record, said cutting element being movable into engagement with the surface of the rec ord by downward pressure on said arm.

4. A device of the class described, comprising a support for a phonograph record having a central aperture, a post on said support adapted to be received in said aperture to center the record on the support, an arm mounted for rotary movement on said post and having its rotational axis off-set from the axis of the post, a cutting element supported on said arm and normally out of engagement with the surface of the record, said cutting element being movable into engagement with the surface of the record by downward pressure on said arm, and means for vertically adjusting said cutting element with respect to the surface of the record.

5. A device of the class described, compris ng a support for a phonograph record havmg a central aperture, a post on said support adapted to be received in said aperture to center the record on the support, an eccentric member demountably and nonrotatably supported on said post, out of engagement with a record positioned on said support, an arm mounted for rotary movement on said eccentric, and a cutting element mounted for radial adjustment on said arm and normally out of engagement with the surface of the record, said cutting element being movable into engagement with the surface of the record by downward pressure on said arm, whereby rotation of said arm will cause said element to cut a circular groove in the surface of the record, which will be eccentrically disposed with respect to the axis of the record.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of March, 1929.

CARL H. \VILL. 

